Steroid intermediates and process for preparing



ilnited States Patent 3,296,283 STEROID INTERMEDIATES AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING Alexander D. Cross, Mexico City, Mexico, assignor to Syntex Corporation, Panama, Panama, a corporation of Panama No Drawing. Filed May 24, 1963, Ser. No. 282,849 21 Claims. (Ci. 260-3473) The present invention relates to novel processes for the production of novel cyclopentanophenanthrene derivatives.

More particularly, the present invention relates to novel des-A-androstane and des-A-pregnane derivatives, and to novel methods for the production thereof from the corresponding A -androstadien-3-one and A pregnadien-3- one compounds.

The novel tricyclic compounds of the present invention are represented by the following formulae:

i Y.. J

(I) (II) In the above formulas Y represents formyl or hydroxymethyl; X represents hydrogen or carboxyl; A may be wherein R and R each represent hydrogen or a hydropionate.

The novel compounds of the present invention are useful intermediates in the production of lOu-androstanes and IOa-pregnanes, especially of their 19-(hydroxy, 0x0, halo, alkyl or alkenyl) derivatives, which are of great therapeutic value and some of which were the object of my copending US. patent applications Serial Nos. 231,830, 231,831, and 231,832, all filed October 19, 1962.

For example, the compounds represented by Formula I may be treated with methyl-vinyl-ketone, 1,3-dichloro- 2-butene or 4-bromobutan-2-ol benzyl ether following procedures identical or similar to those described by Velluz et al., Angew. Chem. 72, 725, 1960 or Sondheimer et al., Tetrahedron, letters No. 22, 38 (1960) to give the corresponding 19-hydroxy or 19-oxo-10a-androstane or apregnane derivatives which in turn may be converted to the corresponding l9-halo compounds by tosylation of the 19-hydroxyl group followed by treatment with an alkali metal halide, or to the corresponding l9-methylene 3,296,283- Patented Jan. 3, 1967 derivatives by treatment of the l9-oxo group by Wittigs reaction, etc. The compounds represented by Formula II may be treated with zinc in acetic acid or ethanol, to give the corresponding 19-hydroxy-mot-derivatives, which are included in Formula I and therefore may be subjected to the aforesaid transformations or the corresponding 19- hydroxy-10a-carboxylic derivatives which may be in turn decarboxylated thermally or with a mineral acid, thus undergoing'concomitant epimerization at the C-lO-position and furnishing the corresponding 19-hydroxy-10uderivatives just mentioned.

The 10a-androstanes and l0a-pregnanes in general and the 19-hydroxy, halo and 0x0 derivatives thereof, in particular, are of great importance due to their unique therapeutic properties. For example 19-hydroxy-10aprogestational activity with absence of any androgenic effects, 19-ox0-10a-testosterone has a favorable anabolic androgenic ratio, etc.

The novel process of the present invention which may be used for producing the novel compounds represented by above Formulae I and II, among others, is exemplified by the following equation:

In the above formulate, A, X, Y and Z have the same meaning as set forth previously.

The starting compound (III) of the present process is a A -3-tketo-6BJ9-oxido derivative of the pregnane or 'androstane series and may have, in addition to the substituents indicated by Formula IH, several other substituents which do not interfere with the reaction. For example, there may be present lower alkyl groups at positions 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, and/or 17, halo groups at positions 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and/or 21, polyhalo alkyl groups at positions 15, 16 and/ or 17, etc. The positions indicated hereinbefore for the mentioned substituents are preferential but not restrictive.

In proceeding in accordance with the above equation, the starting compound (III) is treated with ozone, preferably followed by hydrogen peroxide to produce several products which upon chromatographic separation furnish the corresponding 6;3,19-oxido des-A-(androstane or pregnane)-5-one and the 10a-carboxy derivative thereof (11).

Following an alternate procedure, the starting compound (III) is treated with a strong oxidizing agent capable of attacking double bonds, preferably a salt which upon ionization produces anions having a reduction potential of the order of, or larger than +0.5 v. with respect to their nearest reduced state, preferably an alkali metal permanganate, e.g. potassium permanganate in neutral or weakly basic solution, and subsequently or simultaneously with an alkali metal perhalate, such as sodium periodate, preferably in solution in a strongly polar solvent, for example t-butanol-water and at temperatures adapted to the desired length of time (for exin acetone and filtered through 10 g. of alumina.

ample, at room temperature the reaction time is of about 2-3 hours) to give after chromatographic separation the corresponding 65,19-oxido-des-A-(androstane. or pregnane)-5one (II; X=H), the lflu-carboxy derivative thereof (11: X=.COOH), the corresponding lOa-hydroxymethyl-des-A-19-nor-(androstane or pregnane)-5- one (I: Y=CH -OH) and the corresponding 10aformyl-des-A-19-nor (androstane or pregnane)-5-one (I: Y=CHO).

The latter process may also be applied to A -3-keto derivatives of the androstane and pregnane series, thus being produced the corresponding des-A-la-(androstane .or pregnane)--one compounds.

This last conversion is represented as follows:

PREPARATION 1 1 g. of 17,20;20,21-bisn1ethylenedioxy-5a-bromo-6,3,19- oxido-pregnane-3,1l-dione obtained according to Bowers, US. Patent No. 3,065,228 was mixed with 100 cc. of acetone and 2 g. of potassium acetate, and the resulting mixture was refluxed for 3 hours. The whole was then poured into water, the precipitate filtered ofi, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane to give 17,20;20,2lbismethylenedioxy-6B, 19-oxido-A -pregnene-3 1 l-dione.

A mixture of 500 mg. of the latter steroid, cc. of dioxane and 350 mg. of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4- benzoquinone was refluxed for 10 hours. It was then cooled the 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzohydroquinone formed during the reaction filtered off, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved Crystallization from acetone-hexane gave 17,20;20,21-'bis- -methylenedioxy-6fi,19-oxido-A -pregnadiene-S ,1 l-dione.

17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy 5oz br-omo 6 8,19- oxido-pregnan-3-one, obtained according to the aforesaid patent, was treated following the above procedures, thus giving as final product 17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-6,B,19-oxido-A -pregnandien-3-one.

PREPARATION 2 5owbromo-6 3,19-oxido-androstane-3,17-dione, obtained according to the aforesaid patent, was treated with potassium acetate according to the procedure described in Preparation 2, thus yielding 6,8,19-oxido-A -androstene- 3,17-di0ne.

A solution of 1 g. of sodium borohydride in 3 cc. of water was added to an icecooled solution of 1 g. of the latter compound in 120 cc. of methanol and the mixture was allowed to stand for 6 hours at room temperature. The excess reagent was decomposed by addition of ace-tic acid, the solution concentrated to small volume in vacuo and diluted with water. The productwas extracted with ethyl acetate, the extract was washed with water, dried and evaporated. The solid residue was purified by crystallization from acetone-hexane to give 6/3,l9-oxido- A -androstene-3fl,17fi-diol.

A mixture of the latter diol in 20 cc. of dioxane, and 1.1 molar equivalents of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4- benzoquinone was kept at room temperature for 3 hours. The hydroquinone formed during the reaction was filtered off, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in acetone and filtered through 20 g. of

alumina. Crystallization from acetone-hexane gave 6 3, 19-oxido-A -androsten-175-ol-3-one.

The latter compound was dehydrogenated according to the method of Preparation 1 thus yielding 613,19-oxido- A -androstadien-l7,B-ol-3-one.

A mixture of 1 g. of the latter steroid, 4 cc. of pyridine and 2 cc. of acetic anhydride was kept at room temperature overnight, poured into ice water, the formed precipitate was filtered, Washed with water and dried. Crystallization from acetone-hexane gave 6B,].9-OXldO-A androstadien-l7B-ol-3-one acetate.

Example I A solution of 5.2 g. of 6B,19-oxido-A -androstadiem 17/3-ol-3-one acetate in 50 cc. of glacial acetic acid and 50 cc. of ethyl acetate was. placed in an ozonization tube, cooled in an ice-salt bath. A stream of ozone was introduced for 2 hours (0.024 mol per hour), then 20 cc. of water and 3 cc. of 30% hydrogen peroxide were added and the mixture was stirred vigorously. The mixture was heated for half an hour on the steam bath and then kept at room temperature for 48 hours.

The resulting solution was concentrated to a small volume under reduced pressure on the steam bath, diluted with 20 cc. of methanol and poured into water. The mixture was extracted with ether, the extract was washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness The residue was chromatographed on 250 g. of alumina, thus yielding in different elution fractions 65,19 oxido-17/3-acetoxy-des-A-androstan-S-one-lOar-carboxylic acid and 65,19 oxido-1718- acetoxy-des-A-androstan-S-one.

Example 11 To a stirred solution of 5 g. of 6fl,19-oxido-A -androstandien-17B-ol-3-one acetate in 300 cc. of an azeotropic mixture of t-butanol and water was added 2.8 g. of potassium carbonate dissolved in cc. of water, followed by 50 cc. of a solution of 20 g. of sodium periodate in 250 cc. of water and 5 cc. of a 0.8% solution of potassium permanganate in water. The rest of the periodate solution was then added little by little, adding the necessary further amounts of the permanganate solution to maintain the characteristic color.

After keeping the resulting mixture for 2 hours, at room temperature the excess of permanganate was destroyed with sodium bisulfite solution and the mixture was concentrated to a volume of 400 cc. cooled to 4 C., acidified with ice cold 50% sulfuric acid and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic solution was washed with aqueous sodium bisulfite solution until free of iodine, then with water to neutral, dried and evaporated to dryness. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel, thus separating into four products which after individual recrystallization from acetone-hexane afiorded 6,8,19 oxido 17,8 acetoxy-des-A-androstan-S-one-10acarboxylic acid, 6/5319 oxido 17/8 acetoxy des-A- androstan-S-one, 17B acetoxy 10oz hydroxymethyldes A 19 nor androstan 5 one and H S-acetoxy- IOa-fOrmyI-des-A-19-nor-androstan-5-one.

Example 111 Example IV 6,8,19 oxido A -androstadiene-3,17dione obtained according to Ringold et al. US. Patent No. 3,001,989, was treated following the procedure described in Example I, thus yielding 6 3,19-oxido-des-A-androstane-S,17-

dione-lOa-carboxylic acid and 6/3,19-oxido-des-A-androstane-5,17-dione.

Example V 65,19 oxido A androstadiene-3,17-dione, was treated according to Example H, thus yielding 65,19- oxido des A androstane 5,17 dione-lOa-carboxylic acid, 65,19 oxido des A androstane-5,17dione, m hydroxymethyl des A 19 nor-androstane-5,17-

dione and 10a formyl-des-A-19 nor-androstane-5,17-

dione.

Example VI 65,19 oxido A pregnadiene 3,20-dione, was

treated according to Example II, thus yielding 65,19- -oxido des A pregnane-5,20-dione-10a-carboxylic acid,

65,19 oxido des A-pregnaue-5,20-dione, IOa-hydroxymethyl des A 19 nor-pregnane-5,20-dione and 10aformyl-des-A-19 nor-pregnane-5,20 dione.

Example VIII 65,19 oxido A pregnadien-17a-ol3,20-dione acetate (US. Pat. No. 3,008,957) was treated according to Example I, thus furnishing 65,19-oxido-17a-acetoxydes A pregnane 5,20-dione-10a-carboxylic acid and 65,19-oxido-17a-acetoxy-des-A-pregnane-5,20-dione.

Example IX 65,19 oxido A pregnadien 17oz-Ol-3,20-di0118 acetate was treated according to Example II, thus furnishing 65,19 oxido 17a acetoxy-des-A-pregnane- 5,20 dione 10a carboxylic acid, 65,19 oxide 17aacetoxy des A pregnane 5,20 dione, 10o: hydroxymethyl 17a acetoxy des A 19 nor-pregnane-5,20- dione and 10a formyl 17oz acetoxy-des-A-lQ-norpregnane-5,20-dione.

Example X 17 ,20;20,21 bisrnethylenedioxy 65,19-oxido-A -pregnadiene-3,11-dione was treated according to Example II, thus giving 17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy-65,19-oxidodes-A-pregnane-5,1l-dione-lOa-carboxylic acid, 17,20;20, 21 bismethylenedioxy-65-19-oxido-des-A-pregnane-5,11- dione, 17,20:20,21 bisrnethylenedioxy-l0a-hydroxymethyl-des-A-19-nor-pregnane-5,1l-dione and 17,20;20,21-bis methylenedioxy 10a-formyl-des-A-19-nor-pregnane-5,11- dione.

Example XI 17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy 65,19-oxido-A -pregnadiene-3-one was treated in accordance with Example II, thus furnishing 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-65,19- oxido des-A-pregnan-S-one-lOa-carboxylic acid, 17,20; 20,21 bismethylenedioxy 65,19-oxido-des-A-pregn-an-S- one, 17,2'0;20,21 'bismethylenedioxy-10a-hydroxymethyldes-A-l9-nor-pregnan-5-one and 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-lOu-fQrmyLdes-A-l9-nor-pregnane-5-one.

Example XII 65,19 oxido-A -pregnadiene-17a-ol-3,20-dione (US. Pat. No. 3,008,957) was treated according to Example II, thus furnishing 65,19-oxido-l7a-hydroxy-des-A-pregname-5,20-dione-10a-carboxylic acid, 65,19-oxido-17a-hydroxy des-A-pregnane-5,20-dione, 10a-hydroxymethyl- 17a-hydroxy-des-A-19-nor-pregnane-5,20-dione and 100:- formyl-17a-hydroxy-des-A-19-nor-pregnane-5,20-dione.

Example XIII A -androstadiene-3,17-dione was treated according to Example H, to give des-A-l0a-androstane-5,17-dione.

Example XIV A -androstadien--ol-3-one acetate was treated ac cording to Example II, thus yielding 175-acetoxy-des-A- 10a-androstan-5-one.

Example XV A -pregnadien-3,20-dione was treated in accordance with Example II to produce des-A-10a-pregnane-5,20-

dione.

Example XVI A -pregnadiene-17a-ol-3,20-doine was treated by the procedure described in Example II, thus yielding 17ahydroxy-des-A-l 0a-pregnane-5,20-dione.

Example XVII 17 ,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy A -pregnadiene-3J1- dione was treated according to Example II, to give 17,20; 20,2 1 -bismethylenedioxy-des-A-10a-pregnane-5 ,1 l-dione.

Example XVIII 65,19-oxido-A -androstadien-175-ol-3-one was treated according to H, thus furnishing 65,19-oxido-175-hydroxydes-A-androstan-S-one-l0a-carboxylic acid, 65,19-oxido- 175-hydroxy-des-A-androstan-S-one, 175-hydroxy-10a-hydroXymethyl-des-A-19-nor-androstan-5-one, and 175-hydroxy-10a-formyl-des-A-19-nor-androstan-5-one.

I claim:

1. A compound of the following formula:

wherein A is a member of the group consisting of R and R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a lower alkanoyl group; Z is selected from the group consisting of and =0 and Y is a member of the group consisting of hydroxymethyl and formyl.

2. A compound of the following formula:

R and R are each selected from the group consisting from the group consisting of and and X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and carboxyl.

3. A process which comprises treating a A -3-keto- 6fi,19-oxido steroid selected from the group consisting of the androstane and pregnane series with ozone and subsequently with hydrogen peroxide to give the corresponding 6B,19-oxido des-A-steroid-S-one and the 100:- carboxy derivative thereof.

4. A process which comprises treating a A -S-ketO- 6,8,l9-oxido steroid selected from the group consisting of the androstane and pregnane series with an alkali metal permanganate and an alkali metal perhalate to give the corresponding 6,3,19-oxido-des-A-steroid-S-one, the u-carboxy derivative thereof, the corresponding 10a hydroxymethyl-des-A-19-nor-steroid-5-one and the corresponding IOa-formyl-des-A-l9-nor-steroid-5-one.

5. A process which comprises treating a A -3-keto steroid selected from the group consisting of the androstane and pregnane series with an alkali metal permanganate and an alkali metal perhalate to give the corresponding dGS-A-lOoc-StBI'Od-S-Onfi.

6. The process of claim 4 wherein the alkali metal permanganate is potassium permanganate and the alkali perhalate is sodium periodate.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the reaction is car ried out in t-butanol-water azeotrope.

8. The process of claim 5 wherein the alkali metal permanganate is potassium permanganate and the alkali metal perhalate is sodium periodate.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the reaction is carried out in t-butanol-water azeotrope.

10. 6fi,19 oxido 17/3-acetoxy-des-A-androstan-S-onel0a-carboxylic acid.

11. 6 8,19 oxido l7fl-hydroxy-des-A-androstan-S-one- 10a-carboxylic acid.

12. 6 3,19-oxido-17 3-acetoxy-des-A-androstan-S-one.

13. 6,8,19-oxido-17fl-hydroxy-des-A-androstan-S-one.

14. 17,8 acetoxy IOa-hydroXymethyl-des-A-19-norandrostan-S-one.

15. 17/3 hydroxy 10u-hydrOXymethyI-deS-A-19-norandrostan-S-one.

16. 17 8 acetoxy-10u-forrnyl-des-A 19-n0r-androstan- 5-one.

17. 17 8 hYdI'OXY-lOnt-fOl'l'l'lYl-dGS-A-19-1'1OI-311d1'05ta11- 5-one.

18. 613,19 oxido-dcs-A-pregnane-5,20-dione-10ct-carboxylic acid.

19. 6 3,19-oxido-des-A-pregnane-5,20-dione.

20. hydroxymethyl des-A-19-nor-pregnane-5,20- dione.

21. 10a-formyl-des-A-19-nor-pregnane-5,20-dione.

No references cited.

ALEX MAZEL,. Primary Examiner.

H. R. JILES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:
 2. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:
 3. A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES TREATING A $1,4-3-KETO6B,19-OXIDO STEROID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE ANDROSTANE AND PREGNANE SERIES WITH OZONE AND SUBSEQUENTLY WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TO GIVE THE CORRESPONDING 6B,19-OXIDO DES-A-STEROID-5-ONE AND THE 10ACARBOXY DERIVATIVE THEREOF.
 4. A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES TREATING A $1,4-3-KETO6B,19-OXIDO STEROID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE ANDROSTANE AND PREGNANE SERIES WITH AN ALKALI METAL PERMANGANATE AND AN ALKALI METAL PERHALATE TO GIVE THE CORRESPONDING 6B,19-OXIDO-DES-A-STEROID-5-ONE, THE 10A-CARBOXY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, THE CORRESPONDING 10A - HYDROXYMETHYL-DES-A-19-NOR-STEROID-5-ONE AND THE CORRESPONDING 10A-FORMYL-DES-A-19-NOR-STEROID-5-ONE. 